Land of Memory - a Hermitcraft and last life threequel

*cries*

I SPENT AGES TRYING TO THINK OF IDEAS, CAME UP WITH ONE, WROTE HALF OF THIS CHAPTER AND IT DECIDED NOT TO SAVE. 

I WANT TO DESTROY IT A MILLION TIMES IN A ROW

There's a knife to my throat. 

One moment I was alright, and the next someone was pulling me back, a sharp pain at my neck as the blade sat there. 

'You deserve this.' A voice that removes all doubt of people using German accents for villains threatens. My heart and breath are growing faster every moment, my thoughts a mess of THIS IS THE END. 

'CUB! HELP!' 

'He's not going to help you, Scar.'

'Why? Why wouldn't he help me.'

'Having an alliance of two boogeymen is awfully nice. Not for you, but for me certainly.' 

'So you're going to kill both of us?'

'That's the plan.' 

'Then kill me now. What are you waiting for?'

Doc laughs. 'I don't just want to kill you, man. I want you to watch him die first. Just so you know what it's like.' 

An explosion tears up the ground in front of us. Doc backs up, still stopping any escape I was too stunned to make. Cub yelling my name from below. The voice cutting off. A death message in chat. 

'NO!' I yell before I can think straight. He's going to respawn. He's going to respawn. He's going to respawn-

Then a startled sound from Beef. Another death message. And Cub shooting straight up out of nowhere, fazing through the roof, all while telling me to RUN. 

I kick Doc in the leg. Hard. He lets out a furious noise, and this time I do make the most of his distraction. I struggle free, turning to face him, heart racing. A flick of my hand and a sword appears in it. I almost cry out with relief as I feel the weight of the weapon, the familiar hum of magic without the mask that came when the high Evoker was paying attention to your closeness to death and decides to help. 

Doc draws his own sword in reply, but I've shoved him against the wall and stabbed mine into his gut. There's a half-stifled howl of pain. 

'This is for killing me before.' I snarl, just as he dies. The body disintegrates, and I walk off, breaking my way out of the sand base before building a bridge across the lava to freedom. 

Cub lands next to me. The vex wings flicker away as he does, looking over at me. 

'You took your time.'

'It was only a couple of minutes at most, Cub.'

'Yeah... I guess. I did it in less time.'

'Well, you died while attempting it!'

'All part of the plan.'

'Really?' I cross my arms jokingly. 

'Nah, but it did help.'

Cub starts waking away and I run after, catching up and matching his pace.

'Where do we go?' He asks. I remember he doesn't know this world, and just shrug. 

'We can just see who's nearby. And if they want to be our allies.'

'And if they don't?' Cub glances over at me.

'We burn down their base and quickly leave.' I reply calmly. There's a moment of acceptance before realisation.

'Wait- burn down their bases?! Please say you didn't...'

'Only a village. And Etho's favourite tree. And then his base. Several times.' I count it off on my fingers, stopping only when Cub bursts out laughing.

'That is the best thing I've heard since you suddenly disappeared from Hermitcraft.' 

'What?! I'm a vexling, what else would I do?'

'Not saying it's a problem, man. Just...' he shakes his head in disbelief. 'You're full of surprises...'

'Even after we've known each other for so long?'

'Yeah. Somehow.'

'Somehow.' I smile. I missed talking to Cub. True, we did in the maze, but there was much more of a threat there, and we didn't know who was listening. Now we can talk freely again. And enjoy each others company

'Scar?'

'Hmm?' I look at Cub. We've reached the forest and are far enough in that the desert isn't visible. And ahead?

Houses.

People.

'They weren't there before... It must be one of the hermits who weren't in third life...'

I run on ahead. Cub yells for me to slow down, following behind as we reach the homes. I slow down, listening for conversation as I turn the corner.

Two hermits are there, and it turns out 2 houses too, with a clearing between them. There's a moment of surprise where I don't say anything, comprehending why Etho and Impulse are together.

'Hey guys!' I begin cheerfully. Impulse draws a sword. Cub appears behind me.

'Why are YOU here?' Impulse asks.

'Oh, you know... Doc attacked us and our house got blown up... Again...'

'But why are you HERE? Do you think I'm going to let you stay here?'

'Yes?'

'Well, you can't. Get out, or I'll kill you.'

'Scar, I don't know why he's mad, but we should go.' Cub intervenes. I don't move.

'Weren't we friends? In the weird world we ended up in?' I remember right as I say it that I accidentally killed him, but I don't mention it.

'Oh, yeah. Just like we were on the same side here. Before you traded my life for a clock with Bdubs.'

'Scar, we need to go.'

'That was ages ago.' I ignore Cub. It's a bad idea. I know it is. But the recklessness of being red is catching up with me. 'Let us stay here.' 

'No.' 

'Impulse, let them stay.' Etho finally joins in. 'Stop holding grudges and let them stay.'

'No!' Impulse draws a bow. I smile back, feigning innocence. 

'Alright.' I turn to walk away. I can imagine Etho and Impulse sharing a glance before...

I pull out my flint and steel, striking them together and setting the house next to me on fire. There's a furious yell from Impulse, but I'm already running, grabbing Cub's arm as I do.

'Let's get out of here!'

'SCAR WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!'

'You'll get used to it! Let's go!' 

I take a sharp corner, and Cub follows. I mean, there's nothing else he can do. And I feel like Grian didn't warn him about how I act in this world.

An arrow shoots past us. It misses. Turning sharply again, I continue evading Impulse and Etho, enjoying myself almost too much as I run. 

'Scar... slow down... stop...'

'If we stop we're going to get caught!' 

I don't have any time to argue my case, carrying on going. I'm getting tired. Cub can tell, since he pulls me to the side, hiding behind a tree. Impulse runs past. Etho follows. Stops.

And notices us. 

And I realise he's on red.

And he's probably going to kill us.

HOLY HELS THIS CHAPTER IS DONEEEEE.

THIS TOOK AGES.

ABSOLUTELY AGES. 

I BASICALLY WROTE THIS CHAPTER 3 TIMES. 

AHHHHH